Current Events Articles

Clinically Reviewed By: Corey Pitts, MA, LCMHC

How can current events affect mental health?

Too much information, especially about topics like politics, wars, or even the environment, can leave you feeling distressed or start to change your outlook on life over time. Current events fatigue, or constant exposure to news on an ongoing basis, can lead to some of these symptoms:

• Anxiety and chronic stress from doomscrolling

• Sleep disruption and fatigue

• Feelings of helplessness, grief, or anger

• Vicarious trauma from repeated exposure to tragedy

• Mood changes and social withdrawal

People are drawn to negative news through something called negativity bias. This is a survival mechanism buried deep in the brain that alerts us to potential perceived threats in order to keep the body safe. 

Reactions to negative news are individual, but some people may be more prone than others. For example, those with prior trauma can be triggered by a specific event in the news.

The current divided climate can make even joyous times, like holidays, seem stressful due to differing opinions at tables and celebrations. If you are worried about an upcoming holiday season, regardless of where you are in the world, you might benefit from speaking with a licensed therapist or exploring current events counseling for additional support.

What does current events counseling involve?

If you find that your worry or anxiety about current events is affecting your life, you might want to consider current events counseling. In current events counseling, licensed professional counselors help people process their thoughts and emotions related to world events and the consumption of negative and distressing news.

During therapy, professional counselors can help people identify their personal triggers related to the news or current events and how these triggers make them feel and react. Identifying these triggers can also help people learn how to control their reactions by practicing coping strategies and self-care routines.

During talk therapy, counselors can help people learn ways to manage their stress, anxiety, and uncertainty around current events while helping them build healthy boundaries when it comes to news consumption. If you find that you need it, a counselor can help you process feelings of grief, fear, or anger in a safe space that’s free from judgment. 

Who can benefit from this type of counseling?

This type of mental health care can work well for adults who are feeling worn out, anxious, or overwhelmed by the news cycle. When you stay tuned into the news for too long, your brain might subconsciously start to select only the bad stories while not holding onto the good news. Being too invested in current events can cause both mental and physical symptoms. Some of these include: 

• Constant worrying

• Difficulty making decisions

• Sleep and digestive issues

• Feelings of despair, numbness, or sadness

Anxiety and depression can happen to anyone. Even celebrities, like actors, comedians, and famous athletes, face these feelings. A busy schedule can make it hard to connect with a therapist regularly, especially during times of uncertainty, when support like current events counseling may help individuals process ongoing news and external stressors.

However, the constant stream of news can deepen feelings of anxiety and depression, especially if you find yourself constantly scrolling through your phone to look at the news or social media. The barrage of news can then leave you feeling helpless, angry, and emotionally exhausted, which can impact other aspects of your life. 

If any of these things sound familiar, you might want to consider seeking the services of a mental health professional to help you learn ways to cope.

What to expect from your first session

When you first sign up with BetterHelp, you will fill out a short questionnaire that will match you with the right licensed professional for the mental health services you’re looking for, including someone who has experience with current events counseling. You don’t need to have a specific diagnosis to use the BetterHelp platform. Each therapist works to meet users where they are and help them identify ways to improve their overall mental health and well-being.

The platform allows users to connect to their therapist via phone, video, live chat, and messenger so they can talk from wherever, whenever. This means you can even chat during busy times, like holidays. 

Combined with financial burdens, busy workdays, and family stressors, the holidays can be challenging for many people, which makes current events counseling even more beneficial for processing stress related to what’s happening around them.

How can self-care and counseling work together?

Current events counseling should supplement self-care, not replace it. It’s important to find ways to alleviate your stress and anxiety around the news outside of your therapy sessions. You and your therapist can create a plan together that may include the following:

• Setting intentional limits on news consumption

• Replacing doomscrolling with grounding or mindfulness activities

• Staying connected with your community and loved ones

• Journaling or building creative outlets to process emotions

• Practicing gratitude as a counterbalance to negative news

How can BetterHelp connect users with current events counseling?

BetterHelp’s easy-to-use platform and tools make it easy to connect with a therapist from the comfort of your own home at your own schedule. The platform hosts a variety of mental health professionals with comprehensive experience in diverse fields, including current events counseling.

Once you are matched with your therapist, you can choose how you like to connect: by phone, video, live chat, or messenger. From there, you can get ongoing support from your counselor as the news cycle evolves.

BetterHelp offers flexible, affordable mental health services for adults in today’s modern world. Reach out today and get connected to a therapist on BetterHelp.

FAQs

Can current events cause anxiety?

Current events may cause anxiety. Exposure to distressing news is a well-documented trigger for anxiety and stress.

Is current events counseling a real type of therapy?

Yes, licensed professional counselors regularly help clients process the emotional impact of world events.

Can someone access current events counseling online?

Yes, BetterHelp connects users with licensed counselors via video, phone, chat, or messaging from anywhere.

Do you need a diagnosis to seek counseling for news-related stress?

No, a formal diagnosis is not needed to benefit from mental health care or to get started with a counselor.

Is BetterHelp's counseling available on an ongoing basis?

Yes, BetterHelp offers continuous mental health services, so users can stay supported as circumstances change.